Sports betting

[Da Coach]

Sports betting is being legalized in more states, so we are sure to see more people complaining about plays like this that spoil the betting line.
Toledo just lost to Florida International in the Bahamas Bowl today. The over/under betting line ranged from 66.5 points down to 57 points at different sports books, and at different times.
Florida International was ahead 28-25 with less than a minute left, and had just made a 1st down and could run out the clock. The "under" bettors were expecting a win. However, the FIU running back broke loose and scored a touchdown with 41 seconds left to go ahead 35-25, and lock up the win. Still, most "under" bettors were still OK.
But, Toledo got one last possession, down 10 points with a few seconds left. With the ball just past midfield, Toledo was down to their final play of the game, down 35-25, Nonetheless. with no chance of winning, Toledo threw a "Hail Mary" pass that was successful as time ran out to make the final score 35-32. It did not change the outcome, but it suddenly made losers of all the people who bet the "under". Those bettors had winning tickets until that last meaningless Hail Mary.

https://www.actionnetwork.com/ncaaf/toledo-fiu-bahamas-bowl-2018-bad-beat-hail-mary?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=darrenrovell

[Da Coach]

The NCAA will begin video reviews of all "buzzer beaters" in this year's NCAA Tournament, even when the shots do not affect the winner or loser of the games. Previously, end of game buzzer shots were not reviewed, unless it might affect the outcome. But now because of sports betting, a shot at the buzzer can affect the winners and losers in sports betting.

https://www.actionnetwork.com/ncaab/college-basketball-ncaa-tournament-buzzer-beaters-spread-reviews

Note that this decision comes just a couple days after two high-profile games this past week - Oklahoma-Iowa State and Villanova-Creighton -- that both had point spreads affected by last-second incorrect calls that would have been reverse if they had been reviewed.

https://newsok.com/article/5622055/ou-basketball-jamal-bieniemys-buzzer-beater-causes-betting-controversy

https://www.actionnetwork.com/ncaab/villanova-creighton-shot-after-buzzer-bad-beat

[wizard1]

DaCoach & Others.....Coach, I believe you and I are on the same page regarding sports betting. IMO, legalized sports betting may very well change the face of college sports. It may be OK for pro games where the players usually have good incomes and are carefully watched by their coaches and owners but I do not believe that will be the case in college sports where most kids have little or no money, are immature and don't always think things thru clearly, and can be talked into doing the wrong things by outside influences.
I think we will see increasing reports of games and final scores that seemed to follow betting lines. Over time, legal betting on college games will introduce another major (and bad) factor into college games....especially basketball and football. This could far surpass current illegal recruiting and agent payoffs and ultimately ruin the great thing we now have in college sports. The Supreme Court made a terrible mistake in their ruling.
Wizard

[Da Coach]

I suspect we might see more cases like this one, though they will be hard for the NCAA to track down and prove considering how easy it is now to place bets online privately, and that nobody short of subpoena power could ever find out.

Two UNC Greensboro athletics staff members participated in sports wagering

https://www.ncaa.org/about/resources/media-center/news/two-unc-greensboro-athletics-staff-members-participated-sports-wagering

This case at UNC Greensboro involved a women's basketball assistant coach who made numerous online wagers, including betting on his own school's men's basketball team's games. He apparently bragged a lot to many other members of the UNCG athletics department about it. When the NCAA started an investigation, the coach clammed up, and refused to cooperate. The NCAA was not able to determine the full extent of the betting because the coach refused to allow them access to the online account records.
The other athletic department individual who was placing wagers was a former assistant director of the university’s fundraising organization who apparently only placed a few bets, including at least one on the men's basketball team.
The NCAA also cited that there were 6 individuals identified who knew about the NCAA violations and did nothing to report them.
However, the NCAA did have enough evidence to place heavy penalties on UNCG and the two individuals:

• Three years of probation.
• A 15-year show-cause order for the former assistant coach. During that period, any NCAA member school employing him must restrict him from any athletically related duties unless it shows cause why the restrictions should not apply.
• A four-year show-cause order for the former assistant director. During that period, any NCAA member school employing him must restrict him from any athletically related duties unless it shows cause why the restrictions should not apply.
• A $15,000 fine.